One thing I usually struggle with though is creating a distinct personality for each character. Something--a mannerism maybe? a way of speaking?--that separates them from the rest of the characters in the book.

Well, I think for me, I struggle with the battles. Not so much in describing them, but in coming up with clever battle strategies and figuring out how to work it into the book and showcase my characters. See, that's part of my problem. I don't want a battle just because in the end of a trilogy you have to have this epic battle. I want the battle to showcase the themes of the book and the characters who have been struggling to survive and make a better life.

*Seconds Airi* What you just said is the story of my life...

The hardest part of writing?

The writing part.

Actually, a popular author told me yesterday that writing is only %10 of it. The rest of it is working out what to write.

Actually, a popular author told me yesterday that writing is only %10 of it. The rest of it is working out what to write.

How do you know a popular author?

Actually, a popular author told me yesterday that writing is only %10 of it. The rest of it is working out what to write.

I love writing battles! In fact, that's typically one of the easiest parts for me. I have a very strategic mindset when it comes to that, sometimes so much so that it becomes a detreiment and I got lost in too many details. As time goes by, however, and the number of battles I've written climbs, it becomes challenging to come up with fresh material.

I put in plot. Everything else is not very hard at all. I absolutely love dealing with characters, and spend a little too much time on them than I ought to. Originality...I don't bother about very much. I love making up or finding names. I have to force myself to stop writing. I worldbuild more than is good for me. I come up with dialogues in my sleep. I describe things constantly, all the time, everything. I like coming up with unique creatures.

But plot... * scratches head * Let's just say that it was practically non existent for the first two thirds of my writing career. I still struggle with it.

To keep going. I come up with ideas, characters (I LOVE creating characters; I spend my free time writing up character profiles...), the whole shebang.

Finishing the darn thing is a whole nother kettle of fish entirely. I usually stop halfway through. If not, I never finish editing it.

Another thing I struggle with is jumping the gun. I manage not to, but it is hard.

No.... as in, I've made all these plans and have established a timeline in which they are to happen, but I'm so excited about them that I want to make them happen earlier. *wry smile * I'm pretty good at holding myself back, because I know it will pay off better where I originally designed it to go, but sometimes it is hard.

No.... as in, I've made all these plans and have established a timeline in which they are to happen, but I'm so excited about them that I want to make them happen earlier. *wry smile * I'm pretty good at holding myself back, because I know it will pay off better where I originally designed it to go, but sometimes it is hard.

Sorry. But how can they all be the hardest part? You must be better at some things than others.

Somehow, it's like it's the actually writing that is what's really hard, in that no matter how good everything is in my head, it doesn't transfer onto paper well. The characters kind of die on paper (not literally), and the plot becomes stretched out and dull no matter how good the idea originally was. Short stories work fine sometimes, but anything longer than a couple pages... Does that makes sense?

Well I meant at different parts of the book. Y,know, plot and character issues?

I thought of a problem I have that is also not on the list. Often my best ideas appear in extremely small images or quotes (like C. S. Lewis's image of a faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy wood) and they do join together into greater ideas.
But I sometimes am hesitant to develop out from any one of these ideas for fear they will be prevented from joining with the other ideas, which I also want to develop.

Definitely dedication to writing.

I really, really, really want to make my story come to life, but I find it hard to just sit there and write.

It's like... I have it all so planned out and carefully detailed in my head that I don't want to put in on paper in fear that it will come out horrible.

Am I alone on this one?